Where to Look for Assistance with Funeral Expenses

Where to Look for Assistance with Funeral Expenses

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Even in the best of circumstances, spending a great deal of money can be stressful and distressing. But when it comes to spending money on planning a funeral service and the aspects of burial for a loved one, thinking about how you can afford such costs only makes a painful time more difficult. 

 

You may be asking yourself a multitude of questions to problem-solve: How am I going to cover all of this? What long-term sacrifice do I need to make to afford everything? Are there any ways I can save significant money?

 

Let's cover that last question. While aspects of a funeral service mean a substantial financial investment, plenty of resources exist that can significantly lessen the financial burden. After all, plenty of people, businesses, and organizations understand the grief and sorrow you are currently experiencing; questioning whether or not you can afford to properly say goodbye should not be an additional burden you have to carry throughout all of this.

 

If you need assistance with covering the costs of funeral expenses, here are a few helpful resources for you to explore and consider as you make your plans:

 

Illinois Department of Human Services

 The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) provides payment for funeral expenses of several groups of people, including those who received or qualified for assistance. Some of these programs include Parent/All Kid Assist, Family Assist, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Cash, AABD Medical, General Assistance Foster or Adoption Care, or Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) Cash. The IDHS will pay a maximum of $1,370 for a funeral or $686.00 for burial or cremation.

 

Speak To Your Township

According to Illinois Legal Aid Online, your township's General Assistance program may help pay the burial costs. Read our Applying for General Assistance page for information on how to get General Assistance. The township will ask if the family wants to donate the body to science. If the family donates the body, they must ensure the institution follows the rules. The institution will move the body from the hospital or state facility.

 

If Your Loved One Passed from COVID

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), State of Illinois, and Cook County remind all  Illinois residents that financial assistance is available to individuals who have incurred COVID-19 related funeral expenses. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 21,000 families in Illinois are eligible for federal funeral reimbursement funding.

 

Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning. Our staff will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. 

 

Adolf Funeral Home has served the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for many years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today. 

 

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Sources

https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30367 

https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/what-happens-if-i-cant-afford-bury-my-loved-ones-remains 

https://www2.illinois.gov/ready/Press/Pages/061021.aspx 

https://www.funeralwise.com/funeral-arrangements/getting-state-assistance/ 

 

How to Write a Headstone Epitaph

There are many stressful and emotionally taxing aspects to planning the funeral of a loved one. But, perhaps surprisingly, one of the portions that cause an unusual amount of pressure and anxiety is what epitaph is most appropriate for the deceased’s headstone. After all, what information best captures a life well lived? How do you make sure family and friends understand just how special and beloved this person was?

 

An epitaph is a phrase or a description used to describe the life of someone who has recently departed. Many headstone epitaphs have three or four lines: the person’s name, birth and death dates, and the epitaph itself. The fourth line is usually placed at the top of these common three lines and says something along the lines of “In Loving Memory” or “In Memory of”

 

Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind to get your headstone epitaph just right:

 

Choose Someone to Oversee the Task

While several family members and friends can offer input on the headstone epitaph, someone should be in charge of the process. This person can do appropriate research, figure out the exact wording, find and negotiate the best price for the headstone itself, and promptly accomplish the tasks. 

 

Keep it Simple

Headstone choices can be overwhelming, especially for grieving families, because they can involve many personalized options. The best way to choose the best headstone and the accompanying epitaph is to keep it simple. Include names and dates and consider a brief inscription or quote. Keep the ornamentation simple, such as a flower or cross, which will often look more refined instead of engraving complicated images. 

 

Look to the Classics

If you find it difficult to create your own emotionally resonant inscription, get inspired by the best. Choose a line from a poem, hymn, song, bible passage, or famous author. 

 

Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning. Our staff will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. 

 

Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services has served the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for many years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today. 

 

Sources

https://stoneletters.com/blog/memorial-quotes-headstone-epitaphs

https://www.usurnsonline.com/burial/12-tips-headstone-inscription/

 

How to Support American Heart Month

According to Everyday Health, heart disease is one of the most complicated and prevalent health challenges in the United States today. Disorders of the heart and blood vessels, otherwise known as cardiovascular disease, accounted for about 1 in 3 deaths (approximately 860,000 people) in the United States just five years ago. As if that statistic wasn’t frightening enough, the American Heart Association states that more than 126 million people had some form of cardiovascular disease between 2015 and 2018. 

 

Despite these humbling statistics and the continuous challenges facing those battling cardiovascular disease, there are some hopeful signs. One of these signs is that February is dedicated to heart health and awareness. Here’s how you can help spread the word to those in your community!

 

Follow the Daily Themes

During National Heart Health Month, each day of the week is given a special theme. Set yourself up for success with these hashtags:

• #SelfcareSunday means creating a self-care checklist for the week

• #MindfulMonday involves getting educated on your health stats and blood pressure numbers

• #TastyTuesday encourages you and your family to enjoy a delicious, heart-healthy recipe

• #WellnessWednesday means committing to getting your health into a wellness routine

• #TreatYourselfThursday means doing whatever you need to do to give yourself some fun and relaxation

• #FollowFriday allows you to share who inspires you to live a heart-healthy lifestyle

• #SelfieSaturday means posting a selfie with your favorite way to take care of your heart

 

Take Action:

Having a solid social media campaign to boost heart health awareness is crucial, but there are so many more creative ways to take action and actively fight heart disease. For example, consider one of these many possibilities:

• Teaching a lesson on heart health to your local community

• Hosting a month-long writing or art contest where students compose poems or short stories about healthy hearts

• Coordinating a day in the month where you and your co-workers wear red to promote a healthy heart

 

At Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services, we will do whatever possible this and every February to honor those suffering from (or who have passed away from) cardiovascular diseases by participating in initiatives to spread the word about Heart Health Awareness. 

 

Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning. Adolf Funeral Home has served the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for many years and prides itself on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability yet small enough to provide personalized service. 

 

To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today. 

 

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Sources

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/media/docs/Fact_Sheet_25_Ways.pdf

https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/activity/celebrate-heart-health-month/

https://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-health/awareness-month/

 

Unique Ideas for Monuments and Headstones

 

Dealing with the grief that comes from losing someone you love doesn't end the day of your loved one's funeral and burial. It's a process that will, in all likelihood, take the rest of your lifetime to understand and heal from. 

 

As time passes, it's natural to think of ways to have physical reminders of the dearly departed one who has died. While writing them letters during the holiday season or making a scrapbook filled with photos, memories, and keepsakes are great ways to honor a loved one's memory; however, the most obvious way is to have a monument or headstone at their burial site. Sure, a monument or a headstone at their burial site provides details about who the person was and how long they lived, but it can also symbolize who they were in this life and comfort those closest to the deceased. Having a physical place to visit, and looking at something that tells the world who they were, is so helpful for families in this painful time of need.

 

So, where do you start? What should your memorial or headstone look like?

  

Unless your chosen cemetery requires it, memorials don't have to be a standard shape. One of the easiest ways to create a wholly personalized headstone is to design a uniquely shaped piece. In general, when it comes to what shapes are possible - if you can think it, it can be created! Think of what your loved one cherished in life and think of how a headstone or monument can reflect that. Was your loved one an avid football fan? Why not have a headstone shaped like a helmet? Was the deceased passionate about a career or hobby? A headstone can be shaped in a way that honors that beloved job or interest. Or, if you want something that's never been done before, get out a sketchbook to start bringing your unique idea to life. 

 

If a headstone doesn't quite suit you (or the tastes of your deceased loved one), consider ideas such as a memorial bench, planting a tree with a plaque, or engraving custom-designed carvings into the monument. If your grandma was an avid knitter or baker, perhaps incorporating a knitting needle or a picture of her specialty treat would be a great way to honor her. If your spouse was an avid reader, carve an image of their favorite book or perhaps a memorable quote from that book into the headstone. The possibilities are truly endless, and YOU are the one who knows best.

 

Selecting a grave marker is an important memento by which people will process their grief and remember their loved one as they visit in the years following a loved one's loss. For some, a monument or headstone acts as a simple gesture to the life the dearly departed lived, while others may want to think of more unique (and grand) ways to honor the deceased. 

 

 Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. 

 

Adolf Funeral Home has served the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for many years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today. 

 

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Sources

https://gibsonmonuments.com/10-ideas-to-create-a-personalized-headstone/

https://everloved.com/articles/memorial-products/top-ideas-for-grave-markers/

https://stoneletters.com/blog/unusual-and-unique-headstones

Veterans Day: How to Show Appreciation to Veterans

 

On Veterans Day, we honor and remember those who have served in our country’s military during times of war and peace. We recognize their personal sacrifice, courage, love of country, and selfness in fighting for and securing our freedoms. 

 

With such deep meaning, sometimes it might be hard to find a way to say “thank you” to our veterans. Here are a few ways to express your appreciation:

 

Write a Note

If you have a veteran in your life, pick out or make a card and write a special message thanking them for their service and how it’s positively impacted your life. If you don’t know a veteran, consider reaching out to a local retirement home and asking for names of veterans you can write thank you notes to. Thousands of elderly veterans across the country may not have friends or family to commemorate Veterans Day. Knowing that someone remembers their service and sacrifice can mean the world to a veteran.

 

Volunteer

If you’d like to thank veterans in a direct, hands-on way, consider volunteering at an organization that helps and supports veterans. Throughout the United States, numerous organizations assist veterans in finding jobs, recovering from their injuries (physical and mental), and re-entering civilian life. Search for “Veterans and Military Families” on VolunteerMatch.org to find veterans-focused volunteer opportunities in your area. The site offers a variety of in-person and virtual opportunities; it’s a great way to use your time and unique talents to make a difference in the lives of veterans and your local community. 

 

Make a Financial Donation

Our personal obligations and COVID-19 restrictions have made it challenging to support veterans organizations in person. However, consider donating if you’re interested in supporting a veterans organization and have the financial means to do so. 

The Wounded Warrior Project helps veterans cope with physical injuries and rehabilitation and the effects of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). In addition, the organization offers various programs and support services to help veterans transition into civilian life. 

A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, The Veteran Success Resources Group, connects veterans and their families to resources nationwide to help them transition to civilian life, find support, and network with other veterans.

 

Donate Your Airline Miles

If you’re a frequent traveler, you probably have thousands of airline miles saved up. The organization Hero Miles Program allows you to donate your unused miles directly to veterans, and these miles can make a huge difference to veterans and their families. It’s a creative way to use your miles and provides round-trip airfare for veterans who are ill, wounded, undergoing treatment, or attending special events. 

 

Cook or Bake for a Veteran 

A home-cooked meal is one of the best ways to show your love and appreciation. Make a casserole or batch of cookies for any veteran in your life. Or better yet, invite them over for dinner as a way to say “thank you.”

 

Hire a Veteran

If you’re in charge of hiring for your organization. Consider hiring a veteran or military spouse. The transition from the military to civilian life can be difficult, as many veterans are unsure how to translate their skills gained during their service to civilian jobs. Hiring Our Heroes and other organizations help businesses hire veterans and provide resources to help veterans translate their military skills into civilian careers. 

 

Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning. In addition, we will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. 

 

Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for many years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today.

 

 

 

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Sources

https://www.military.com/veterans-day/8-ways-to-express-appreciation-on-veterans-day.html

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/g4005/ways-to-help-a-veteran/

https://ceoof.me/memorial-day-how-to-show-appreciation-to-our-veterans-military-and-their-families/

“What Can I Do To Help?” How to Accept Help with Planning a Funeral

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is a sensitive and painful subject. Because it is a situation that is so overwhelming and heartbreaking, those closest to you will not only offer condolences but offer to help you plan the funeral arrangements for the deceased. It is their way to show you their love and support during this unspeakably difficult time.

 

For many people, accepting help is a personal challenge. It’s a fascinating contradiction; when something dreadful occurs, it’s our natural reaction to offer to help others, but when it comes to accepting help ourselves when it’s a need of your own, there is resistance. Now, the specific reasons why an individual does refuse help can drastically vary from person to person.

 

It can be difficult to admit that we are vulnerable and genuinely need help in times of crisis. However, when you are grieving the loss of a loved one, it is crucial to accept the caring acts of others, especially when it comes to planning their funeral services.

 

When it comes to properly handling grief, it is perfectly acceptable (and encouraged) to admit vulnerability and accept the help offered to you, especially when it comes to planning a funeral.

 

Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning. We will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us.

 

Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for many years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today. 

 

 

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Sources

https://www.everplans.com/articles/how-you-can-help-a-grieving-person-before-the-funeral-or-memorial-service 

https://www.funeralbasics.org/accepting-the-caring-help-of-others/ 

https://phaneuf.net/blog/ask-for-help-when-planning-funeral-reception 

Suicide Prevention Month

Did you know suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, responsible for more than 47,500 deaths in 2019? September is Suicide Prevention Month — a month dedicated to raising awareness on suicide and advocating for the destigmatization of this topic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suicide rates in the United States have increased about 33% from 1999 to 2019. Here are some warning signs to watch for, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH).

Warning Signs

Warning signs that someone may be at immediate risk for attempting suicide include:

• Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves

• Talking about feeling empty or hopeless or having no reason to live

• Talking about feeling trapped or feeling that there are no solutions

• Feeling unbearable emotional or physical pain

• Talking about being a burden to others

• Withdrawing from family and friends

• Giving away important possessions

• Saying goodbye to friends and family

• Putting affairs in order, such as making a will

• Taking great risks that could lead to death, such as driving extremely fast

• Talking or thinking about death often

Other serious warning signs that someone may be at risk for attempting suicide include:

• Displaying extreme mood swings, suddenly changing from very sad to very calm or happy

• Making a plan or looking for ways to kill themselves, such as searching for lethal methods online, stockpiling pills, or buying a gun

• Talking about feeling great guilt or shame

• Using alcohol or drugs more often

• Acting anxious or agitated

• Changing eating or sleeping habits

• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge

What can you do?

ASK: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” It’s not an easy question, but studies show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does not increase suicides or suicidal thoughts.

KEEP THEM SAFE: Reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal items or places is an important part of suicide prevention. While this is not always easy, asking if the at-risk person has a plan and removing or disabling the lethal means can make a difference.

BE THERE: Listen carefully and learn what the individual is thinking and feeling. Research suggests acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal thoughts.

HELP THEM CONNECT: Save the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s (1-800-273-TALK (8255)) and the Crisis Text Line’s number (741741) in your phone, so it’s there when you need it. You can also help make a connection with a trusted individual like a family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional.

STAY CONNECTED: Staying in touch after a crisis or after being discharged from care can make a difference. Studies have shown the number of suicide deaths goes down when someone follows up with the at-risk person.

Suicide is a devastating public health problem that has lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities. Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for a number of years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today. 

Sources:

https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/suicide-prevention-awareness-month

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention

https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/index.html